Socket for spaced contacts of tubular members



Aug. 19, 1969 w. J. GARVER ET AL 3,462,725

SOCKET FORSPACED CONTACTS OF TUBULAR MEMBERS 7 Original Filed Dec 14. 1965 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM JQEEPH Gmvu.

9, 1969 w. J. CIEARVER ET AL- 3,462325 S GCKE'I FOR SPACED CONTACTS OF TUBULAR MEMBERS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q) INVENTOR.

Wuuam -\osiPH G-mwtn muun. Am'HoNY Q'HANLAN'QI Aug-19, 1969 w. J. GARVER ET AL 3,462,725

SOCKET FOR SPACBD CONTACTS OF TUBULAR MEMBERS.

Original Filed Dec. 14, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WILLIAM Aoswn GAnvzR Human. Amwmv O'HANLMAR.

Aug. 19, 1969 w. J. GARVER T 3,462,725

7 SOCKET FOR SPACED CONTACTS OF TUBULAR MEMBERS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM 40am crmzvm M ICHABL Ava-runny O'HAHLAM, ll.

United States Patent 3,462,725 SOCKET FOR SPACED CONTACTS OF TUBULAR MEMBERS William Joseph Garver, Harrisburg, and Michael Anthony OHanlan, Jr., Carlisle, Pa., assignors to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Original application Dec. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 513,696, new Patent No. 3,363,217, dated Jan. 9, 1968. Divided and this application Nov. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 682,829

Int. Cl. H01r 33/08 US. Cl. 33951 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A unitary socket comprises first and second sections, the first section provided with a generally triangularshaped chamber and contact passages in communication therewith, the triangular-shaped chamber being open at one surface for receiving contact pins of a tubular light member, the contact pins being electrically engageable with contact members removably secured in the contact passages, the second section provided with spaced openings and contact-receiving areas, contact elements removably secured in the contact-receiving areas for electrical engagement with spaced contacts of a starter member.

This application is a division of Ser. No. 513,696,

filed Dec. 14, 1965, and now Patent No. 3,363,217.

. This invention relates to sockets for receiving spaced contacts of tubular members and more particularly to sockets for receiving spaced contacts of starter members and'starter members and one end of fluorescent tubes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a socket for receiving spaced contacts of tubular members wherein terminal members are readily insertable and removable from the housing member.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a socket for receiving spaced contacts of a starter member for fluorescent tubes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a socket for receiving spaced contacts of a starter member and spaced contacts of one end of a fluorescent tube wherein terminal members are readily inserted and removed therefrom.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a socket including a readily moldable housing member which is simple in construction and of sturdy design and terminal members of simple configuration which are easily mounted in the housing member and properly protected at all times.

' A still further object of the invention is the provision of a socket for supporting the lamp and its starting mechanism in positions immediately adjacent each other to facilitate servicing of these parts.

Still an additional object of the invention is to provide a socket of the character described that can be produced at low cost, is efficient in operation, the terminal members can be inserted into position without the use of tools and the terminal members make good electrical contact with respective contacts or pins.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there are shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that these embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof ice and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

The foregoing objects are achieved by means of a socket including a housing member and terminal members. The housing member has openings in a top surface through which contacts of a starter member extend. Guide members extend outwardly from inside said housing member and extend along over one half of the largest portions of the openings and along a small part of the smallest portions of the openings to guide the contacts. The housing member and the terminal members include means to removably secure the terminal members in position within the housing member so that the terminal members provide sections extending slightly across the smallest parts of the openings. The sections of the terminals electrically engage the contacts of the starter member and secure the starter member in position. In another embodiment, the socket member includes a housing member having a section for receiving spaced contacts of a starter member and another section for receiving spaced contacts of one end of a fluorescent tube.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a socket for a starter member;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the socket and starter member in assembled condition;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view in partial section of the housing member and terminal member of the socket prior to the terminal member being secured within the housing member;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan partially-sectioned view of the terminal member secured in position within the housing member;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the front of the socket;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view in partial section illustrating an alternative embodiment for securing the terminal in position within the housing member;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan partially-sectioned view of the terminal member secured in the housing member;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the socket into which a starter member and one end of a fluorescent tube are disposed;

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of the socket of FIGURE 8 with the terminal members in place therein;

FIGURE 10 is a view taken along lines 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view taken along lines 11-11 of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is a view taken along lines 12-12 of FIGURE 10.

Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1 through 4, there is illustrated a socket S comprising a housing member H and terminal members T. Socket S receives spaced contacts 1 of a conventional starter member SM. Housing member H is made from any suitable dielectric material by conventional molding techniques and comprises a top section 2 having spaced keyhole openings 3 extending therethrough, each of keyhole openings 3 being provided with a large section and a small section. Guide members 4 extend outwardly from the inside surface of section 2. The guide members extend along the large portions of openings 3 and along more than half the circumference thereof. A portion of guide members 4 also extends along the small portions of keyhole openings 3 and inwardly thereof. Sides 5 extend outwardly from the edges of section 2. Recesses 6 are disposed in opposing sides 5 and are in alignment with respective projections 7 which extend outwardly from the inner surface of section 2 between openings 3 and adjacent sides 5. Guide members 4 have extensions 8 which extend outwardly from the inner surface of section 2 and respective sides and are spaced from respective projections 7.

Arcuately-shaped members 9 extend outwardly from the inner surface of section 2 and opposed sides 5 contain recesses 6. Similar shaped members 10 extend outwardly from members 9 and sides 5 and extend a slight distance above sides 5 as well as being smaller than members 9. Arcuately-shaped recesses 11 are located in the outer surface of section 2 and extend within arcuately-shaped members 9. Apertures 12 extend through members 9 and 10 and communicate with recesses 11. Mounting means such as, for example, screws, bolts or the like extend through apertures 12 and the heads thereof are disposed Within recesses 11. Extensions 13 extend outwardly from opposing sides 5. These extensions are thinner than sides 5 thereby forming surfaces 14 in stepped fashion between sides 5 and extensions 13. Lugs 15 are centrally disposed on extensions 13 and are spaced from surfaces 14.

Cover member 16 has a rectangular configuration and is fitable in the area defined by surfaces 14 and opposing sides 5 containing recesses 6. Rectangular recesses 17 are located in opposing sides of the cover member and arcuate-shaped recesses 18 are disposed in the other opposing sides thereof. Cover member 16 is sufiiciently flexible so that in applying the cover member to the housing member, receses 17 mate with lugs 15 and this part of the cover member is brought into engagement with surfaces 14, the cover member is then slid along surfaces 14 until recesses 18 mate with members 10 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. Thus, opposing sides 5 and surfaces 14 provide surfaces on which cover member 16 rests, lugs 15 maintain the cover member in position relative to opposing sides 5 and surfaces 14 and arcuately-shaped members 10 and complementary recesses 18 prevent any longitudinal movement of the cover member relative to the housing member. Cover member 16 holds terminal members T in position within the housing member and the terminal members are obviously placed in position prior to the cover member being applied to the housing member.

Terminal members T comprise ferrule sections 19 and contact sections 20. Ferrule sections 19 are preferably secured onto the conductive portions and insulation of conductor member 21 in accordance with conventional crimping techniques. Contact sections are U-shaped with one leg extending outwardly from ferrule sections 19 and a free leg being bent back along the ferrule leg toward the ferrule sections. Depressions 22 are disposed in the outer ends of the free legs of the contact sections 20.

Terminal members T are inserted within housing member H by placing the terminals around projections 7 between the legs of contact sections 20 with the ferrule sections and ferrule legs being disposed against respective sides 5 and the free legs of the contact sections extending resiliently across parts of the small portions of keyhole openings 3 as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Conductor members 21 extend outwardly through respective recesses 6 in opposite directions. Extensions 8 and projections 7 limit the inner and outer movements of the terminal members after they have been secured in position in the housing member via cover member 16. Thus, projections 7 and eX- tensions 8 along with cover member 16, secure the terminal members in position within the housing member.

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment to removably secure the terminal members within the housing member. In this embodiment, a projection 23 extends outwardly from the inside surface of section 2' which is spaced from side 5' and extends parallel therewith in order to define a channel 24. The inner end of projection 23 has a recess 23. The recess is disposed within side 5 and an opening 26 extends through section 2' in correspondence with recess 25. Terminal member T is the same as terminal members T except that a spring lance 27 is struck out from the terminal leg of contact section 20'. Terminal T is inserted within channel 24 causing the contact section to be slightly depressed until the bight of the terminal member engages extension 8' whereupon spring lance 27 springs into recess 25 and the free end of the contact section is disposed within recess 23 in order to latch the terminal member in position within the housing member as illustrated in FIGURE 7. Ferrule section 19' is disposed within channel 24- and with cover member 16 in position on the housing member, terminal member T is maintained in position Within the housing member. A tool (not shown) can be inserted through openings 3 and 26 in order to move spring lance 27 out of recess 25 and the free end of the contact section out of recess 23' and terminal member T can be removed from the housing member by pulling on conductor member 21'. The cover member preferably remains in position on the housing member when inserting the terminal member in position within the housing member and removing same therefrom. Of course, with the use of terminal members T, the housing member can be a one-piece housing member.

In operation, heads 1 of contacts 1 are disposed within the large portions of openings 3. The starter member is rotated with the smaller sections of contacts 1 moving within the smaller portions of openings 3 and heads 1' move along guide members 4 and in engagement with the free ends of contact sections 20. The starter member is rotated until the smaller sections of contacts 1 engage the ends of the smaller portions of openings 3 and heads 1 become lodged within depressions 22. The resiliency of the free legs of the contact sections bias heads 1 against guide members 4 and depression 22 hold the contacts in position. Heads 1' also prevent starter member SM from being pulled out of openings 3 because the diameter of heads 1 is larger than the small portions of openings 3. Since guide members 4 extend along portions of the small portions of openings 3, the spaced contacts of the starter member are properly guided thereby eliminating any external guide means in the form of an annular ring in which the starter member would be seated. With guide members 4 being disposed along more than half of the large portions of openings 3, heads 1 of contacts 1 are readily moved into and out of openings 3.

FIGURES 8 through 12 illustrate the alternative embodiment of the socket which is a combination socket for accommodating a starter member and one end of a fluorescent tube. In this embodiment, socket S comprises a housing member H having a fluorescent light section 28 and a starter member section 29. Fluorescent section 28 is similar in construction to the fluorescent light socket set forth in US. patent application, Ser. No. 437,451, filed Mar. 5, 1965, now US. Patent No. 3,333,227 and assigned to the present assignee. Fluorescent sections 28 includes a centrally located chamber of substantially triangular configuration with the ends of the base portion defining outwardly curved portions. Chamber 30 is open in the front surface of the socket and is closed by the bottom surface thereof. An entrance slot 31 is disposed in the socket and is in communication with chamber 30 at the apex thereof. Each outer surface 32 of entrance slot 31 is preferably beveled in order to facilitate access to chamber 31. A contact passage 33 extends outwardly from the left outer curved end of chamber 30 to the end of section 28 and another contact passage 34 extends inwardly from the end containing entrance slot 31 and is in communication with chamber 30. Access passage 35 extends inwardly from the end containing entrance slot 31 and terminate at an inner surface 36. An access passage 37 extends parallel to contact passage 33 and the outer surface thereof terminates at an inner surface 38. Contact passage 33 actually continues beyond the respective curved end of chamber 2 and terminates at an abutment 39 which is disposed in the side of chamber 30. Thus, 30 is in communication with entrance slot 31, contact passages 33 and 34, and access passages 35 and 37; contact passage 33 is in communication with access passage 35 while contact passage 34 is in communication with access passage 37.

Starter member section 29 has spaced keyhole openings 40 which are disposed in the bottom surface of the socket. Contact passage 41 extends inwardly from the end of the socket opposite the end containing entrance slot 31 and communicates with chamber 30 as illustrated in FIGURE 10. An extension 42 extends outwardly from the end containing contact passage 41 and passage 41 extends therethrough. A channel 43 is disposed within section 44 and channel 43 communicates with passage 41 with channel 43 extending from chamber 30 to surface 45. A contact passage 46 is disposed parallel to contact passage 34 and is separated therefrom by means of wall 47. Contact passage 46 is in communication with chamber 30. Thus, chamber 30 is located in both sections 28 and 29 and it extends upwardly in section 29 as illustrated in FIGURES l0 and 12. A slot 48 is disposed in Wall 47 and terminates at a surface 49. A blind hole 50 is disposed in section 44. Stepped sections 51 are located at the end of the socket containing extension 42 and these stepped sections mate with the corresponding opening 52 in panel '53 such as, for example, a reflecting member. A hole 54 is located in panel 53 in order to correspond with blind hole 50 and a self-tapping screw 55 is screwed into blind hole 59 so as to secure the socket in position on the panel. Extension 42 in extending beyond panel 53 provides stability to the socket when it is secured in position on the panel via screw 55. Housing member H is a one-piece housing member.

Terminal member 56 is similar to terminal member T in FIGURES 6 and 7 and is preferably crimped onto conductor member 57. Terminal member 56 includes a contact section 58 having a depression 59 into which a contact of a fluorescent tube is disposed. Lance member 60 on terminal member 56 engages surface 36 in order to limit the outer movement of the terminal member and the bight of contact section 58 engages abutment 39 in order to limit the inner movement of the terminal member within the socket.

Common terminal member 61 is insertable within slot 48 and has a lance member 62 extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with inner surface 38 in order to limit the movement of the terminal member in one direction and the terminal member engages surface 49 which limits the movement of the terminal member in the other direction. Terminal member 61 includes a first contact section 63 which is similar in configuration to connect section 58 of terminal member 56 so that depression 64 thereof engages the other contact of the fluorescent tube. Contact section 63 lies within contact passage 34. Common terminal member 61 also includes a second contact section 65 which lies in contact passage 46 and has an arcuate portion 66 which lies across a portion of the small portion of the bottom keyhole opening 40.

Terminal member 67 is preferably crimped to conductor member 68 and has a leg 69 extending substantially normal to the ferrule section for crimping the terminal member onto the conductor member. Lance member 70 extends outwardly from leg 69 which engages surface 45 after terminal member 67 has been inserted within contact passage 41. A projection 71 extends outwardly from the terminal member forward of the ferrule section and is disposed within channel 41 within contact passage 41 and projection 71 engages the end of channel 41' in order to limit the inner movement of terminal member 67 within passage 41 while lance member 70 limits the outer movement of the terminal. A contact section extends outwardly from leg 69 and is bent back across leg 69 at an angular disposition so that depression 73 extends across a portion of the small portion of the upper keyhole opening 40, as illustrated in FIGURE 12. Of course, the free legs of the contact sections of terminal members 56, 61 and 67 are resilient. Contact sections 65 and 72 are engageable with the contacts of the starter member and arcuate portion 66 and depression 73 hold the contacts in position.

In order to remove terminal members 56, 61 and 67 from their respective contact passages, a tool (not shown) is inserted within access passages 35 and 37 or through entrance slot 31 in order to depress lance members 60, 62, and 70 away from respective surfaces 36, 38 and 45 so that the terminal members can be readily removed from the socket.

As can be discerned, there has been disclosed a unique and novel socket having a housing member in which terminal members are removably mounted for electrical engagement with spaced contacts of a tubular member or members.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiments of the invention, which are shown and described herein, are intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A socket for use with electrical devices having spaced contact members comprising in combination a one-piece housing member of dielectric material and terminal members; said housing member having first and second sections, said first section having a generally triangular-shaped chamber provided with an entrance slot and contact passages in communication with base angles of said triangular-shaped chamber and extending in opposite directions, said triangular-shaped chamber being open at one surface and extending to another surface, said second section having contact passages extending parallel to the contact passages in said first section and being separated from each other by a wall, said other surface having spaced keyhole openings provided with small portions and large portions; said terminal members being disposed within said contact passages and provided with contact sections to resiliently engage said contact members of said electrical devices to hold them in position; and means on said housing member and said terminal members for removably securing said terminal members in position in said housing member.

2. A socket according to claim 1 wherein one of said terminal members is common between said first and second sections.

3. A socket according to claim .1 wherein said housing member includes access passages to permit removal of said terminal members from said housing member.

4. A socket according to claim 1 wherein said contact sections include means to maintain the contact members in position.

5. A socket according to claim 1 wherein said housing member includes an extension at one end for stabilizing said housing member within an opening of a mounting member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1946 Young 339-51 9/1948 Kulka 339-51 

